Statement by Seattle City Councilmember Burgess on Council vote approving Families and Education Levy

Seattle – Today the Seattle City Council unanimously passed legislation to place a renewal and enhancement of the Families and Education Levy on the November 8, 2011 General Election ballot.

Councilmember Tim Burgess, Chair of the Council’s Public Safety and Education Committee, issued the following statement after the vote:

"All of our children deserve a quality education. We face a moral and an economic imperative to provide them one.

"The Levy proposal sent to the voters today is the product of excellent collaboration between the Mayor, the City Council and Seattle Public Schools. It will fund program areas that research has shown to be effective. It will provide services for the kids who need the most help. It will include strict accountability measures administered by the City. It will make concrete progress in the goal of preparing every child in our city for college and career.

"The decision now goes to the people of Seattle. I look forward to a healthy civic debate about the Levy and other ways we can all work together to improve public education."

The ballot language for the Levy will read as follows:

"The City of Seattle's Proposition concerns renewing and enhancing Education-Support Services to improve academic achievement.

"This proposition would fund City services, including school readiness, academic achievement in elementary, middle and high school, college/career preparation, and student health and community partnerships as provided in Ordinance ____. It authorizes regular property taxes above RCW 84.55 limits, allowing additional 2012 collection of up to $32,101,000 (approximately $0.27/$1,000 assessed value) and up to $231,562,000 over seven years. In 2012, total City taxes collected would not exceed $3.60 per $1,000 of assessed value. Should this Levy be approved?"